Fear of Dengue Outbreak in Bihar as 2,600 Cases Reported

Patna: Bihar has sounded a dengue alert following rising numbers of cases in recent days. With official data putting the number of cases at more than 2,600 fear of a dengue outbreak is looming large in the state.

A health department official in the state capital told Newsclick that the most number of cases have been reported in Patna and Nalanda districts. In Patna, nearly 100 cases were reported on Thursday. So far, more than 1,600 cases have been reported in Patna, 200-plus in Nalanda, followed by 68 in Gopalganj, nearly 50 in Vaishali, 36 in Gaya and 34 in East Champaran districts.

Three dengue deaths have been reported so far with dozens of patients undergoing treatment at various hospitals.

The department has directed all nine government hospitals, including the Patna Medical College and Hospital, to increase the number of beds for dengue patients and also asked the urban development department to intensify the spraying of DDT powder, anti-larvae chemicals and the fogging of malathion mix to control the spread of dengue in Patna and other towns, officials said.

According to department officials, Patna Medical College and Hospital has set up a special dengue ward with 25 beds. The number of beds is likely to be increased to 40 soon and all the beds are reserved for the treatment of critical dengue patients. Similarly, 10-15 beds have been arranged at hospitals in other districts.

Sanjay Singh, executive director, Bihar Health Society, told Newsclick that all “district civil surgeons have been directed to ensure measures like proper sanitation, regular fogging and spraying to prevent the spread of dengue and superintendents of all medical colleges and hospitals have instructed to be on alert to provide proper treatment to dengue patients”.

Dr. Binay Kumar Sharma, additional director-cum-state programme officer, vector-borne diseases, told Newsclick that common people should actively support preventing of breeding of mosquitoes that cause dengue. “Only a collective move can stop the spread of dengue. The health department has been creating awareness by putting up posters and banners and distributing handbills to alert people.”

However, contrary to department claims, sanitisation of vulnerable residential areas and fogging of malathion mix in Patna is slow.

“Fogging and spraying are being done only for namesake despite the rising number of dengue cases. The ground reality is different. We are at high risk of getting dengue,” Abhay Kumar, a resident of Kankarbagh, told Newsclick.

“Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) is busy serving posh localities and not interested in sanitising, spraying and fogging to prevent the spread of dengue in other areas,” Kumar alleged.

Ironically, most of the cases reported in the last two weeks were in areas that fall under the PMC.

“We face the mosquito menace 24X7 and the fear of a dengue outbreak is growing with reports of rising cases. Our area and neighbouring areas are waterlogged in several places. But DDT powder is sprayed nor fogging of malathion mix is done,” Shambhu Singh, a resident of Anishabad, told Newsclick.

Like Singh, Anas Ahmad, a resident of Harun Nagar, and Mahesh Prasad, a resident of Jai Hind Colony, said that the mosquito threat is serious in view of the surge in dengue cases.

According to local Hindi dailies, dozens of personnel from different police stations, including Patrakar Nagar, Buddha Colony, Khagaul and Kotwali, in Patna are undergoing dengue treatment.

As per official data, 6,667 dengue cases were reported in 2019 and the number decreased to 493 in 2020 and 633 cases in 2021 with the COVID-19 outbreak.